A flexible ServerNet-based fault-tolerant architecture

Author

Baker, W.E. ; Horst, R.W. ; Sonnier, D.P. ; Watson, W.J.

Author_Institution

Tandem Comput. Inc., Cupertino, CA, USA

fYear

1995

fDate

27-30 June 1995

Firstpage

2

Lastpage

11

Abstract

The paper introduces a new fault-tolerant architecture that combines the best attributes of the software fault-tolerant Tandem NonStop systems with the hardware fault-tolerant integrity systems. This architecture is based on the ServerNet System Area Network (SAN). ServerNet, formerly called TNet, is a packetized byte-serial multistage network that supports both I/O and interprocessor traffic in fault-tolerant systems. Dual-ported CPUs and VO controllers connect to independent subnetworks in a variety of different network topologies. Systems can expand either through shared or distributed memory multiprocessing. A separate maintenance system controls system initialization, online configuration changes, and error reporting. The architecture´s flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of environments with varying requirements for performance, fault tolerance, and software compatibility.<>

Keywords

computer architecture; data integrity; distributed memory systems; fault tolerant computing; input-output programs; multistage interconnection networks; reliability; shared memory systems; software fault tolerance; software maintenance; I/O traffic; ServerNet System Area Network; TNet; VO controllers; distributed memory multiprocessing; dual-ported CPUs; error reporting; flexible ServerNet-based fault-tolerant architecture; hardware fault-tolerant integrity systems; independent subnetworks; interprocessor traffic; maintenance system; network topologies; online configuration changes; packetized byte-serial multistage network; shared memory multiprocessing; software compatibility; software fault-tolerant Tandem NonStop systems; system initialization; Communication system traffic control; Computer architecture; Control systems; Error correction; Fault tolerance; Fault tolerant systems; Hardware; Network topology; Software performance; Storage area networks;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Fault-Tolerant Computing, 1995. FTCS-25. Digest of Papers., Twenty-Fifth International Symposium on

Conference_Location

Pasadena, CA, USA

Print_ISBN

0-8186-7079-7

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/FTCS.1995.466982

Filename

466982